"There was a lot of improvement for birds in the last 2 decades but since the new government is in power many achievements such as the afternoon hunting curfew and the ban on finch trapping have been lifted", CABS president Heinz Schwarze said. The organisation also confirmed reports in local newspapers about a massive turnover and the forced transfer of many experienced ALE seargents and officers in the last months. "We have been informed that many officers who have worked with us in the past have been transferred to other units against their will. Their experience and know-how to bring poachers to justice will be missed this season. It is hard to believe that this is just a coincidence", Schwarze said.

This morning an advance staff team of CABS spotted an illegal trapping site for songbirds near Buskett (Malta) and alerted the authorities. A joint police-army patrol arrived at the scene and apprehended the trapper who is expected to be taken to court soon. 6 live protected finches and pipits as well as a large clap net were confiscated. Last weekend an illegal trapping site for Ortolan Bunting and Dotterel was discovered at Gharghur, with a live Dotterel decoy and an electronic bird caller being played. The trapper escaped but nets were taken by police. In addition CABS has informed the police about several other sites around Malta where electronic bird callers - mainly for Dotterel - can be heard at the moment.